Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing pushed for the delisting of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystems, highlighting a delay in the review process despite both populations exceeding U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recovery targets.

Current Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Shannon Estenoz, who is also President Biden’s nominee for Department of the Interior (DOI) Deputy Secretary, acknowledged that the bear populations in these ecosystems have recovered. "The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population is recovered," Estenoz stated. "The numbers from 2022, 965. Not only that, as I said earlier, the Northern Continental Divide population is also recovered at more than 1,100 bears."

Daines expressed frustration over the delayed review process: "So last February, of course, the FWS initiated...a 12-month status review for a reason... My question is: Would you help us and focus on getting this 12-month review done that should have been completed in February?"

Estenoz responded by affirming her agreement with Daines but noted complications: "We’ve tried to do that twice before and the courts have rejected it...we’re working through our delisting criteria." She added appreciation for Montana and Wyoming's stewardship of grizzly bears.

Daines emphasized urgency: "There’s no reason we can’t get this 12-month study wrapped up... It should have been done in February; it’s now the middle of July."

Estenoz assured Daines that efforts are ongoing: "This process is running based on what the needs of the process are...driving toward a decision as soon as possible."

Despite assurances from Estenoz about prioritizing this issue within Fish and Wildlife Service leadership, Daines remained skeptical about timely completion before upcoming elections: "I’m just a little skeptical that we’re going to see this get done before the election."

In May, Daines questioned DOI Secretary Deb Haaland on grizzly bear status. Haaland was unable to provide specific recovery targets or current population figures but did not confirm whether populations had met recovery criteria.